About a glowing fire, occupying all sorts of easy positions, were grouped a number of men and one boy. They were ragged, dirty, and unshaven. Their clothes were made up of odds and ends. Some of them were smoking short black pipes; some were talking loudly; and others lay perfectly still, as though asleep. Two of the number seemed to be preparing supper; for they were at work about the fire, and were evidently anxious regarding the contents of some tin cans, and several battered kettles. At a short distance from the fire were two or three rude huts of poles and branches.
Although Arthur did not know it at the time, this was a tramps’ camp, to which all these vagrants of society, who happened to be prowling about that part of the country, flocked when night overtook them. Sometimes one or more, who were tired of tramping, and who had begged or stolen a stock of provisions, would remain here for several days, so that, from early spring until quite late in the autumn, the camp was never without a greater or less number of occupants.
Now, although Arthur had never had any practical experience with tramps, except to gaze curiously, from a respectful distance, at the few specimens he had seen, he instinctively shrank from making his presence known to the rough-looking fellows gathered beneath him. It was pleasant to see the cheerful firelight, to hear the sound of voices, and to know that there were other human beings besides himself in that dark forest. It would also be very pleasant to the hungry boy if he could have some supper. Still, to venture down among those men might prove very unpleasant. So Arthur wisely decided to bear his hunger as best he might, and study them from a safe distance, at least for a while longer.
All at once, from some part of the camp beyond the circle of firelight, came the same melancholy long-drawn cry that had first directed the boy’s attention to this place, and he now recognized it as the howl of a dog in distress.
At the sound, the largest and most powerful of all the tramps, who had been lying motionless stretched at full length on the ground, sprang up, and in a fierce voice exclaimed:
“You Kid, fetch that pup here! we’ll see if we can’t give him something to ki-yi for, or else we’ll stop his infernal yelp entirely.”
The one boy of the camp, who answered to the name of “Kid,” and was a tough-looking young rascal, larger and apparently a year or two older than Arthur, hastened to obey this command. He disappeared, and in a minute returned dragging after him, by means of a bit of rope about its neck that was evidently choking it, a dog. As the bright firelight fell full upon the animal, Arthur was amazed to recognize it as the very one that had been presented to him by the Chapmans the day before. There could be no doubt of it; for there were the same erect sharp-pointed ears, the same white-tipped little tail, and the same brindled markings. It was indeed poor Rusty; and Arthur’s heart ached to see him in so wretched a plight. How could he have come there? What were they about to do with him? This last question was quickly answered.
The big tramp took the rope from the lad’s hand, at the same time bidding him go and cut a hickory switch. “See that it’s a good one too,” he added.
This command was obeyed as the other had been, and in a few minutes the switch was ready.
“Now whale him while I hold him,” ordered the big tramp, savagely. “We’ll give him a chance to do all his howling at once, and then we’ll have some peace for the rest of the night. Lay it on solid, and if you kill him, so much the better.”